Roll-carrying mechanism for automatic musical instruments or players.



PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

M. CLARK. ROLL CARRYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 0R PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16,1906.

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74 5572exifiexi 1 g A! M 'No."849,831. ,PATENTED APR. 9, 1907.

- M. CLARK. ROLL CARRYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUME NTS OR PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.16,1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVILLE CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. ROLL-CARRYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS R PLAYERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9,- .1907.

Application filed February 16, 1906. Serial No. 301 ,363.

To all whom it may concern.-

Q Be it known that I, MnLvILLE CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Roll-Carrying Mechanism for Automatic ,Musical Instruments or Players, of

whichthe following is a specification, refer-- ence being had to the accompanying drawnglsflformlng a part thereof.

is invention is designed to provide improved means for supportin the rolls which carry the perforated control ing-sheets of aucheeks.

.structed for operating ing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a section at Fig. 3 1s a detail secthe line 2 2 on Fig. 1

tion, on a larger scale, at the line 3 3 on Fig. 1, with swing-brackets in different position from those in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a detail section at the line 4 4 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top lan view of the pneumatic-action chamberw ich contains the primary pneumatics of the pneumatic-action for I operating the. playing devices. Fig. 6 is a section at the line 6 6 on Fig. 5. Fig; 7 is a detail section at the line 7 7 on Fig. 5. Fig. Sis a perspective View of an adjustable paper-stop or use on the take up roll.

The tracker-board 1 I have shown mounted so as to be movable longitudinally between the cheeks 2and 3 for the purpose of adjusting its ducts to the perforations of the controlling-sheet, either to make correction for the shrinking or swelling of the aper or for transposing. For this purpose t e cheeks 2 and 3 have sockets or shdeways 2 and 3*, in which the opposite ends of the tracker-board are seated and movable towa' d and from the The t acker-board has a stem 4, which extends out th ough the left-handcheek 3 and is connected to a lever 5, which is fulcrumcd at the upper or rear end'in a post 6, mounted on the cheek 3, andat its lower or forward end is connected to one end of a link or operating-rod 7, the other end of which is provided with an operating-handle 7*, which extends through the'lower bar 8 of the roll-frame,

finely serrated rat chet plate 9 is mounted board 8 and engaged by a tooth 7 b on the op-' erating-rod 7., which is held into engagement with the barby a spring 10, which is supportder side of the rod 7, as seen in Fig. 1. The whole length of the lever 5 being about three times the distance from its fulcrum to its movement of the tracker-board resulting from the movement of the handle 7 in the slot 8*" will be only one-third as great as the movement of said handle,and the serrations of the ratchet-bar 9 being made, for example, aboutone-tenth of an inch apart the tieth of an inch, which is slight enough to effect any desired correction to compensate for change of width of the paper by shrinking or swelling. The upper. surface of the frame-bar 8 may have a graduated scale 8' along the slot to guide the operator in trans-. position.

frame is mounted with its left-hand end plate 12 adjacent to said cheek, and the cheek is' apertured to admit the protruded bearing-bosses 12. and 12 of the roll-operating shafts or spindles l5 and 16, which protrude from the left handends of their bearings within the roll-frame and are suitably with the rolls. As shown, this is effected by a square terminal 17, the rolls bein designed to have a corresponding square soc ket to en-' gage the terminal. The opposite cheek 3 has mounted in it the spring-chambers 18 and21 for the left-hand ends of the rolls. Theopposed driving and bearing spindles, mounted as described in the opposite cheeks 2 and 3, are at suitable distance to receive between them the longest rolls for which the instrument is designed. .In order to accomtion which will now be described. motor-frame plate 12 a rigid post 25 pro ects through the right-hand cheek behind or above the tracker-board, and on this post Outside the right-hand cheek 2 the motor terminated to effect driving engagement said bar having a longitudinal slot in which said handle may be moved. A

upon the underside of the frame bar or ed on the bar 8 and bears up against the unconnection with the tracker-board stem, the

tracker may be adjusted in steps of one-thire;

and 19 for the yielding bearing-spindles 20 modate shorter rolls, I provide a construc- From the IIO there are mounted side by side two swing brackets 26 and 27 of similar construction. The bracket 26 has at its swinging end a transverse bearing and spring-pocket 26, in 5 whiclrthere is j ournaled a spindle 28, having at the right-hand or outer end a square socket 29, adapted to engage the square terminal 17, and having fast at the inner end a driving-head 30, with a square terminal 17, adapted to engage the driving end of the roll in the same manner as the square terminal 17 of the spindle 15. The spindle 28 is reduced in diameter within the pocket, and a spring 31, coiled on the reduced portion, reacts against the bottom of the pocket and the shoulder caused by the reduction to yieldingly hold the spindle thrust outward-that is, in direction for engagement with the square ends 17 of the spindle 15. The construction of the swing-bracket 27 is in all respects similar, except that the spindle-bear ing 27 the spindle 28 and the drivinghead 30 are shorter than the corresponding parts 26, 28, and 30 of the bracket 26, so that the square terminal 17" on the bracket '27 does not stand so far within the right hand cheek as the corresponding terminal 17 The two swingbrackets are retained on the post 25 between the two stop-collars 32 and 33, which are cut away at their inner ends throughout a part of their circumference to form stop-shoulders- 32 33, and the outer ends of the hubs of the swing-brackets are similarly cut away to form encountering shoulders at the ends of the resulting segmental projections 34, whose angular extent is less than the, angular extent of the cutaway portion of the collars by an amount suflicient to permit the brackets 26 and 27 to swing from positions at which they are alined with the spindle 15 for engagement with its square terminal 17 to positions respectively above and below such engaging positions, as seen in Fig. On any convenient support as, for exam il'e, upon the upper or rear side of the tracker-board toward the left-hand endthere is mounted a bracket 35, in which there are pivoted two swing-brackets and 37, corresponding to the brackets 26 and 27, respectively, and similarly adapted to swing from positions alined with the spindle 20 to positions respectively above and below such alined positions. The swing-bracket 36, which is designed to swing from the alined position upward, is stopped at its lower alined position by encounter with a stop-lip 35 on the bracket 35, and the swing-bracket 37, designed to swing upward from its alined position, is stopped at its said upper position by a lug 37 encountering the bracket, 35. in the swing brackets 36 and 37 there are mounted yielding center pins and '39, respectively, held rotruded by their respective springs 40,

odged in the pocket formed in the cross- 1 is not so great as to prevent properspreading head of the bracket, as clearly shown, and requiring no further description. The distancebetwecn the spindle 23S and the terminal 17 is that which. is necessary to accom modaie a roll carrying a perforated controlling-sheet for playing fifty-eight notes. The distance between the spindle 39 and the terminal 17 is that which is necessary to acconnnodate a sixty-five-note roll, while, as above stated, the distance between the spindle 20 and the terminal 17 is that which is necessary to accommodate an eighty-eightnote roll. It will be observed that all the swing-brackets when in their respective upper and lower positions out of alinement with the spindle 1.5 are entirely out of the way'of the music-roll, -For which when centered on the spindles 17 and 20 ample accommodation is allowed between the upper and lower positions of said swing-brackets. At the alined position of either of the swing-brackets 26 and 27 they are sulliciently held by the engagement of the square notches of their respective spindles with the square drivin terminal 1.7. The brackets 36 and 37 are stopped at their respective alined positions, as already indicated, but are preferably secured in such positions by means of the clamp-screi 42, which serves as their pivotal support and which is threaded for engag 1.- ment with one of the lugs of the bracket 35 and has a shoulder 42 extending through the other lug, so that it may operate to clamp the hubs of the two swing-brackets together and bind them tight to the bracket 35 with whichever one is in service at properalined position.

The take-up roll 45 is mounted in the usual manner between the spindles 16 and 21, i s total length between its g1lfl'(l-"llfti1 being such as to accomnioa a e an ei; eigh t-no te perforated roll.

rv-rerably, thoi not of necessity, movable guard flan are provided on the take-up rolladapted to be set at positions corresponding to the width ofthe narrower fifty-eight and sixtyfive note rolls. These guard-flanges are preterably made in the-form of spring-clasps 46, (see Fig. 8,) clasping more than one-half of the circumference of the shank oi the roll and elastic enough to open for entering them on the roll and withdraw them and adapted to retain. their position longitudinally on the roll by the friction of their sprin grasp there- 2" on. To form the lateral guards for the paper and serve the purpose of flanges, these clasps have at their proximate edges radially-projecting fingers 46, which may be regarded as an interrupted flange, a continuous flange being objectionable, because it would defeat or materially interfere with the elasticity of the clasp. More pins, as shown, are sulficient, though the circumferential extent or width of the pins is not material, so long as i t and elastic closing of I the clasps. The shank at the treble pneumatic chamber l obliquely, their upper mouths, as stated, sufficiently to pne'umaticzchamber, all these ducts will be closed, the slides operating as 'purpose'. The two slides 50 'made with the 'ducts the top of the roll. may be marked to denote the position at W 'ch the clasps should be located for the rolls of different width. .In employin upon the same trackerboard erforated controlling-sheets of different wi th it is necessary to provide for closing the unused ducts of the tracker-board or the ducts leading thereto. This is most conveniently done by making the closure at the point at which the connection of the ducts is primary pneumatic chamber, and for that purpose there'may be mounted: upon said chamber at the end portions, one end portion being illustrated, (see Fig. 5,) valve-slides 50 and 51, having duct-passages corres ondin to the notes which are. unused. The s de 50 has these ductassa'ges 50 for the twelve extreme notes t at is, upper or lower, according to which end of the chamer is being consideredandjthe slide 51 has the ducts 51, corresponding vvto three notes next higher than the twelve notes of the slide 50 at the bass end and to four notes next lower than the twelve notes of the slide end. For convenience and to have adequate range of movement, as more fully hereinafter explained, the pri- 1111121311? pneumatic" ducts corresponding to the ee notes and to the four notes of the slides 51 are ofiset from the line in which'the remaining ducts terminate, so that their terminal mouths at the top of the primary pneumatic chamber are forward of said-line sufliciently to allow space on top of the chamber for the slides51 to lapby the proximate ends of the slides 50. Fig. 7 shows the primary having the primary locks 55, on which. the primary pneumatics individually are mounted and in which the primary pneumatic 'duct is -formed, these being continued on directly through board 55 in the case of all the other ducts except the two groups of three .and four, respectively, the slides 51, and for these two groups the ducts are continued on from the stop-board as seen at 55*, so as to offset accommodate the slides 51. tub the As the flexible cs 56 are connected into the upperends'of primary pneumatic ducts which correspond to the fifty-eight notes at the'mid'dle.

of the range, so the flexible tubes are connected to the ducts in'the valve-slides 50 and 51, for the notes outside of that middle portion. It' will be seen that if the slides 50 and 51 are moved longitudinally, so that their ducts do not register with the mouths of the ducts emerging at the top of the primary valves for that 50 are operated together for the purpose of opening and closmg the ducts, being connected by'a rod 57 which are to be served by ,made fast at its ends to the valve-slides re-- primaryi neumatic chamber past the intermediate ucts. Similarly, the two slides 51 51 are connected bya rod 58V The slide 50 at the right-hand end is connected by a link 59 with the lever 60, fulcrumed on the top of the chamber54, and this lever at its forward endis connectedwith an o crating-bar 61, extending toward the middle of the instru ment and there provided with a stem 62, op-

of the slot being such as to permit the necessary movement from registered to unregistered position. A similar connection is made by means of a link 66, lever 64, operating-rod 67, and stem 68; for moving the slides 51.

I claim v 1-. An automatic playing mechanism for musical instruments comprising, in combination, a take-uproll,driving and center ng spindles for .the same spaced for a lon er. music-roll and supports for such spindles; swin -brackets and driving and centering spin les carried thereby spaced for a shorter roll, the driving-spindle on the swin brac et being adapted to be engaged and driven by the first-mentioned driving-spindle; means for stopping and securing the swing-bracket carrying the centerin -sp1ndle with said spindle alined with the ilrstmentioned drivingspindle.

2. An automatic playing mechanism for musical instruments comprising, in combination, a take-up'roll, driving'and centering spindles spaced for a pairs of swing-brackets, pair having respectively a driving and a cen-- tering spindle, said spindles of the two pairs being spaced for shorter rolls of different lengths, the driving-spindles on said swing- .and driven by the first-mentioned drivingspindle, the correspondin spindles of the two pairs being mounted %or swinging from opposite directions into alinement with the longer-spaced spindles. V automatic playing mechanism for musical instruments tion, a take-up roll, drivingv and centerin spindles spaced for a lon er music-roll an supports for such spind es two pairs of swing-brackets, one bracket of ing a driving-spindle and the'other a-centering-spindle, said spindles of the two pairs be ing spaced for different-length shorter rolls, the driving-spindl being adapted to be. engaged and driven by the first-mentioned driving-spindle, and a fulcrum or pivot-post-upon which both said 4. In an automatic playing mechanism for musical instruments, in combination, a take up roll, driving and centering spindles spaced for a longer music-roll and supports for said longer music-roll; two the brackets of each each pair havlast-mentioned swing-brackets .are mounted. I

.spectively and extending along the top of the crating in a slot 63 in the board 8, the length brackets being both adapted to be engaged comprising, in combinaes on said swing-brackets spindles; posts pr'ojectin inwardly from said supports parallel with tie spindle-axis; two pairs of swing-brackets, the brackets ofeach pair having respectively a driving and a centering spindle, said spindles of the two pairs being spaced for difi'erent-len'gth shorter rolls, the' drivin spindles on said swingbrackets being a apted to be engaged andv driven bv the first-mentioned driving-spindies, and both said brackets carrying drivinge two brackets carrying the centering-spinles being mounted on the otherpost, said posts being below or back of the first-men- :pindles being mounted upon the same post, t

' tioned spindles, the two brackets on each postbeing mounted for swinging from 0 po' site directions into alinement Wlth the stm itioned spindles and at theirr'emote positions having the music-roll embraced in the angle between them.

5. An automatic-playing mechanism for musical instruments comprising, in combination, a take-up r'oll, driving and centerin spindles s aced for a longer music-roll an supports for said spindles ;'posts projectin from said supportsbelow or back of sai spindles; two pairs of swing-brackets, the

brackets of each pair having respectively driving and centering spindles, the two driving-spindle brackets being mounted on one post and the two centering-spindle brackets on the other post; stop-collars on the post having the driving-spindle brackets, said brackets and collars having cooperatin sto shoulders which limit the swing of the rac ets in opposite directions away from the position at which the drivin -spindles on said brackets are alined with t 16 first-mentioned driving-spindles. I

6. An automatic playing mechanism for musical instruments comprising, in combination, a primary pneumatic chamber having primary pneumatic ducts issuing therefrom; two valve-slides having ducts adapted to register with a limited number of the primary pneu matic duets at the opposite end portions of the chamber; a second pair of valve-slides having ducts adapted to register with a limited number of ducts of the pneumatic chamber next inward from said ducts at the opposite end portions; a tracker-board and flexible tubes connecting said valve-slides with corresponding ducts of the trackeg-board; connect ons .for moving the two first-mentioned slldes into and out of registering. position, and other connections for moving the second pair of valve-slides into and out of registering position of their respective ducts; all in combi nation with the take-up roll, music-roll supports spaced for longer music-rolls, and means for interposmg music-roll supports spaced for shorter rolls. a

7, An automatic playing'mechanism for musical instruments comprising, in combination with a tracker-board, a take-up roll; driving and centering s indles for the musicroll adapted for the ful range of the trackerboard; means for carrying driving and centerin s indles adapted to interpose said spind es etween the first-mentioned driving and centering spindles for carrying shorter rolls a primary pneumatic chamber and flexi- 

